Editor's note: A friendly soccer match between LAC UNITED, a team comprised of 24 Latin American and Caribbean diplomats, and the Rongjiang Luohanguo team, took place on Saturday in Rongjiang, Guizhou province. The match highlighted the 2024 "Discover China Cultural Tour" of Guizhou for Diplomats in China & Guizhou Village Super League co-organized by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Argentine Embassy in China.

The following is a speech given by Dominican Ambassador to China Martin Charles on Thursday during a meeting with Guizhou Governor Li Bingjun in Guiyang, Southwest China's Guizhou province.

Indeed, we are happy to be here in this truly amazing city of Guizhou, where we hope to truly discover more of China's culture here through participating in the 2024 Guizhou Cultural and Tourism promotional event and the Village Super League international friendship match. Our presence shows the importance that we have placed on coming here to have a better appreciation and a deeper understanding of China's rich cultural heritage at the grassroots level.

We look forward to visiting the intangible cultural heritage workshop, the Dali Dong Village, the local school, and the International Cultural and Tourism market. Excellency, we are pleased with the tremendous progress and accomplishments that you and the beautiful people of Guizhou have made over the years. I wish to commend you for the remarkable achievements that you accomplished for your people in eliminating extreme poverty while making steady progress in building a modern, prosperous society with Chinese characteristics. I also want to further commend you and the CPC for your demonstrated tenacity and resilience in uplifting the lives of the people in pragmatic ways, which has brought tremendous economic and social benefits to the people of Guizhou.

Excellency, with this people-centered approach to development, you have ensured that people have access to clean drinking water, proper housing, education and vocational training, medical insurance, social security, modernized agriculture, employment opportunities, wealth creation, and a deep sense of community togetherness by way of the village football league. Therefore, we are responsible as diplomats for sharing with our capitals and friends what we have seen and experienced about your rich cultural heritage. China has played and continues to play an extremely important role in the development of many countries throughout the world. You have shown that you care for the people of the world while striving for the greater good and, at the same time, pursuing your development. Thank you for your tremendous support to our respective countries.

Like other countries present, Dominica is committed to respecting international law and will always support the One-China principle. We recognize the Government of the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate Government representing all of China and Taiwan as an undeniable part of the Chinese territory. Our country will always stand by China's side in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity while opposing politicization that seeks to tarnish China's successes and its contribution to world peace and development.

Excellency, we in the Caribbean continue to battle the adverse effects of global warming and climate change. Our respective islands are exposed year after year to severe hurricanes and other disasters that derail our economic and social gains. Dominica was struck by a tropical storm in 2015 but was destroyed by Category 5 Hurricane Maria in 2017, which wiped out over 226% of GDP. Other countries, including Grenada, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbados, have also experienced similar economic and social drawbacks due to the impacts of these natural disasters caused by global warming and climate change.

Excellency, China's investment in new energy and its global leadership in producing renewable energy equipment and electric vehicles makes it an excellent partner in helping the Caribbean Islands in our quest for zero-carbon for green development. The relationship between China and the Caribbean Islands has grown significantly in recent years, with an increase in exports and imports in both directions with products such as minerals, agricultural products, technologies, and transportation. Today, they are an example of South-South cooperation because, despite geographical distance and cultural differences, they have withstood the test of time and have consolidated themselves in multiple areas. We can emphasize that it remains a common aspiration to work to strengthen the China-Caribbean comprehensive cooperation partnership.

Again, on behalf of all the delegates, I extend a special invitation to you to attend the football match. Though we are not professional or even semi-professional players, we assure you that you will be impressed with our performance. We sincerely look forward to a productive and long-lasting relationship with Guizhou.

Thank you.